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Fédération Cynologique Internationale

The Kennel Club

Neapolitan
Mastiff

(Mastino Napoletano)

Neapolitan Mastiff

ORIGIN

:

FCI

Italy.

PUBLISHED

:

FCI

13.11.2015.

KC

October 2009

UTILISATION

:

FCI

Protection and guard dog.

CLASSIFICATION

:

FCI

Group 2

Pinscher and Schnauzer - Molossoid

Section 2.1

Molossoid breeds, Mastiff type

Without working trial

KC

Working

TRANSLATION

:

FCI

Mrs. Peggy Davis.

BRIEF HISTORICAL SUMMARY

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FCI

The Neapolitan Mastiff is a descendant of the great Roman Mastiff described by Columelle in the first century A.D. in his book “de re rustica”. Widespread all over Europe by the Roman legions, with which he has fought, he is the ancestor of numerous mastiff breeds in the other European countries. Having survived as so many centuries in the countryside at the foot of the Mt.Vesuvius and in general in the region of Naples, he has been re-selected since 1947, thanks to the tenacity and devotion of a group of dog lovers.

GENERAL APPEARANCE

:

FCI

Large, heavy massive and bulky dog, whose length of body exceeds the height at the withers.

IMPORTANT PROPORTIONS

The length of the body is 10% more than the height at the withers. The ratio skull-muzzle is of 2 to 1.

KC

Some loose fitting skin over body and head permitted, not to be excessive.

BEHAVIOUR / TEMPERAMENT

:

FCI

Steady and loyal, not aggressive or biting without reason, guardian of the property and its inhabitants, always vigilant, intelligent, noble and majestic.

KC

Steady, loyal, devoted and vigilant. Slightly aloof.

HEAD

:

FCI

Short and massive, with a skull wide at level of zygomatic arches; its length is about 3/10 of the height at the withers. Ample skin with wrinkles and folds of which the most typical and the best marked goes from the outer palpebral angle down to the lip angle. The upper longitudinal axes of the skull and the muzzle are parallel.

KC

Head fairly large with broad short skull, broad across cheeks. Head proportion: skull length two thirds, to muzzle one third. Skull flat and parallel to topline of muzzle. Definite stop, nose should not protrude beyond vertical line of muzzle. Nose large with well open nostrils. Lips fleshy and thick. The upper lips form an inverted ‘v’ when viewed from the front. Muzzle deep and square when viewed from the front. Head has loose skin permitted but without excess.

CRANIAL REGION

:

FCI

The skull is wide, flat, particularly between the ears, and, seen from the front, slightly convex in its fore part. The bizygomatic width is more than half the length of the head. The zygomatic arches are very prominent, but with flat muscles. The protuberances of the frontal bones are well developed; the frontal furrow is marked; the occipital crest is hardly visible.

Skull

:

Stop

:

FCI

Well defined.

FACIAL REGION

:

Nose

:

FCI

Set in the prolongation of the muzzle, must not protrude beyond the outer vertical line of the lips; must be voluminous with large, well opened nostrils. Its colour is according to the colour of the coat black for the black subjects, dark grey-brown in dogs of other colours, and chestnut for brown coats.

Muzzle

:

FCI

It is very wide and deep; its length corresponds to that of the fore-face and must be equal to the third of the length of the head. The lateral sides are parallel (between them), so that, seen from the front, the shape of the muzzle is practically square.

KC

Scissor bite, i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set square to the jaws. Or level bite. Teeth white and regular. Strong well developed jaws.

Lips

:

FCI

Fleshy, thick and full; upper lips, seen from the front, form an inverted “V” at their meeting point. The lower lateral profile of the muzzle is shaped by the upper lips; their lowest part is the corner of the lips, with visible mucous membranes, situated on the vertical from the external angle of the eye.

Jaws/Teeth

:

FCI

Jaws: Powerful with strong jaw bones and dental arches joining perfectly. Lower jaw must be well developed in its width. Teeth: White, well developed, regularly aligned and complete in number. Scissor bite, i.e. Upper incisors closely overlapping the lower ones in close contact, set straight to the jaw, or pincer bite, i.e. Upper incisors meet edge to edge with the lower incisors.

Eyes

:

FCI

Set on an equal frontal level, well apart one from the other; rather round, slightly deep set. Compared with the coat colour, the colour of the iris is darker. The eye may nevertheless be lighter in coats of diluted shades.

Ears

:

FCI

Small in relation to the size of the dog, of triangular shape, set above the zygomatic arch, they are flat and close to the cheeks. When they are cropped, they have the form of an almost equilateral angle.

KC

Small for size of head, set forward, high and well apart. Triangular, hanging flat towards cheeks, but not reaching beyond line of throat.

NECK

:

FCI

Profile: The upper profile is slightly convex. Length: Rather short, measures about 2,8/10 of the height of the withers. Shape: Conical trunk shaped, well muscled. At mid-length the perimeter is equal to about 8/10 of the height of the withers. Skin: Lower edge of the neck is well endowed with loose skin which forms a double dewlap well separated, but not exaggerated; starts at level of the lower jaw and does not go beyond middle of the neck.

KC

Fairly short, stocky, very muscular.

BODY

:

FCI

The length of the body exceeds by 10% the height at the withers.

KC

Longer than height at withers. Broad, well muscled chest, ribcage reaching at least to elbow. Ribs long and well sprung. Topline straight, sloping slightly from the withers, line of belly parallel to topline.

Topline

:

FCI

Top line of the back is straight; withers are wide, long and not very prominent.

Back

:

FCI

Broad and of a length about 1/3 of the height at the withers. The lumbar region must be harmoniously united with the back and muscles and well developed in width. The ribcage ample, with long and well sprung ribs. The circumference of the thorax is about ¼ more than the height at the withers.

Croup

:

FCI

Wide, strong and well muscled. Its obliqueness compared with the measured horizontal on that of the hip bone (coxal) is about 30°. Its length is equal to 3/10 of the height at the withers. The hip bones are prominent to the extent of reaching the top lumbar line.

Chest

:

FCI

Broad and wide with well developed chest muscles. Its width is in direct relation with that of the ribcage and reaches the 40-45% of the height at the withers. The tip of the sternum is situated at the level of the scapular-humeral joint.

TAIL

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FCI

Broad, and thick at its root; strong, tapering slightly towards the tip. In length it reaches the articulation of the hock, but usually is docked at about 2/3 of its length. At rest is carried hanging and curved in sabre fashion, in action lifted horizontally or slightly higher than the top line.

KC

Previously customarily docked.
Docked: Customarily docked by 1/3 of length. Thick at root, set on slightly lower than topline. Tapering towards the tip. Never carried up or over back, but may be carried level with topline when moving.
Undocked: Thick at root, set on slightly lower than topline. Tapering towards the tip. Never carried up or over back but may be carried level with topline when moving. In overall balance with the rest of the dog.

LIMBS

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FOREQUARTERS

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FCI

On the whole, the forequarters, from the ground to the point of the elbow, seen in profile and from the front, are vertical with a strong bone structure in proportion with the size of the dog.

KC

Shoulder long, slightly sloping with well developed and definite muscle. Elbows not too close to body to allow very free action. Pasterns slightly sloping, legs vertical when viewed from front.

Shoulder

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FCI

Their length measures about 3/10 of the height at the withers with an obliqueness of 50°-60° on the horizontal. The muscles are well developed, long and well defined. The angle of the scapulo-humeral articulation is of 105°-115°.

Upper Arm

:

FCI

Measures about 30% of the height at the withers. Its obliqueness is of 55°-60° furnished with significant musculature.

Elbow

:

FCI

Covered with abundant loose skin, they are not too close to the body.

FORELEGS

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Forearm

:

FCI

Its length is almost the same as that of the (upper) arm. Placed in perfect vertical position, of a strong bone structure, with lean and well developed muscles.

Pastern

:

FCI

Pastern joint: Broad, lean and without nodosity, continues the vertical line of the forearm. Pastern: Flat, continues the vertical line of the forearm. Its inclination on the horizontal towards the front is about 70° to 75°. Its length is equal to about 1/6 of the length of the limb from the ground up to the elbow.

Thigh

:

FCI

In length measuring 1/3 of the height at the withers and its obliqueness on the horizontal is about 60°. It is broad with thick, prominent but clearly distinct muscles. The thigh bone and the tip bone (femur and coxal) form an angle of 90°.

Stifle

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FCI

The femoral-tibial (hip bone-shin bone) angle is about 110°-115°.

HIND LEGS

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Lower thigh

:

FCI

Length slightly inferior to that of the thigh and of an obliqueness of 50°-55°, with strong bone structure and well visible musculature.

Hock joint

:

FCI

Very long in relation to the length of the leg, its length is about 2,5/10 of the height at the withers. The tibial-tarsal articulation forms an angle of 140°-145°;

Hock

:

FCI

Strong and lean, its shape almost cylindrical, perfectly straight and parallel, its length is about ¼ of the height at the withers; eventual dewclaws should be removed.

GAIT / MOVEMENT

:

FCI

This constitutes a typical characteristic of the breed. At the walk, the gait of feline type of lion steps, is slow and resembles that of a bear. The trot is distinguished by a strong thrust of the hindquarters and a good extension of the forequarters. The dog rarely gallops; usual gaits walk and trot. Pacing is tolerated.

SKIN

Thick, abundant and loose all over the body, particularly on the head where it forms numerous folds and wrinkles, and at the lower part of the neck where it forms a double dewlap.

COAT

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HAIR

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FCI

Short, rough and hard, dense, of the same length all over, uniformly smooth, fine and measures 1,5 cm maximum. Must not show any trace of fringing.

KC

Short, dense, even, fine, hard texture, with good sheen. No fringe.

COLOUR

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FCI

Preferred colours are grey, leaden grey and black, but also brown, fawn and deep fawn (red deer), with, sometimes, little white patches on the chest and on the tip of the toes. All these coats may be brindled; hazel, dove-grey and Isabella shades are tolerated.

KC

Preferred black, blue, all shades of grey, brown varying from fawn to red. Brindling on either of the latter colours. Small star on chest and white on toes permissible. Pigmentation to tone with coat colours.

SIZE

Height at withers

:

FCI

Males 65-75 cm.
Females 60-68 cm.

Weight

:

FCI

Males 60 - 70 kg.
Females 50 - 60 kg.

FAULTS

:

FCI

Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog.

KC

Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog and on the dog’s ability to perform its traditional work.

SERIOUS FAULTS

:

FCI

Pronounced undershot mouth.

Gay tail (trumpet tail).

Sizes bigger or smaller than the limits allowed.

DISQUALIFYING FAULTS

:

FCI

Aggressive or overly shy.

Overshot mouth.
Accentuated convergence or divergence of the facial-cranial axes.
Topline of muzzle concave or convex or very aquiline (Roman nose).
Total depigmentation of nose.
Wall eye; total depigmentation of both rims of eyelids; cross eyed.
Absence of wrinkles, folds and dewlap.
Absence of tail whether congenital or artificial.
Extensive white patches; white markings on the head.
Any dog clearly showing physical or behavioural abnormalities shall be disqualified.

N.B.:

Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.